You should definitely be concerned about your home’s security. A criminal can break into your home at any time. The tips in this article can help you fortify your home against invaders and threats.

When you buy a new home, be sure to have the locks changed. You cannot be sure of the number of key copies that the former owner gave out. Contact a locksmith to make sure that only you have access to your home. If you lose keys, make sure to do this, too.

It’s important to comparison shop for alarm systems. Wild variations in pricing can exist for similar security products. Look at a number of different companies and get at least three quotes before selecting what you feel is the ideal plan for your home.

It can be a good idea to only leave one ringer on in your home when you are away. If the phone rings when you are away, burglars will know there’s nobody home, making the house vulnerable to a break-in when you are out.

Annual check-ups are important for alarm systems. Get someone from the security firm to inspect it. The weather and animals are two things that may cause havoc on your home’s security system. If you aren’t paying attention, you may not be aware of these problems.

Be brave! Build up a rapport with the people who own homes close to yours. Watch their houses, and ask if they’d do the same. Don’t discount what sounds like idle gossip. You could learn important security information, such as if strangers have been lurking around the neighborhood.

Listen to your intuition as to whether your system is being installed by a trustworthy home security company. Don’t hire anyone who makes you uncomfortable. If you simply are not comfortable with a company’s technician, request for another technician or simply hire another company. The system and the company should put your mind at ease.

Do you have skylights? If so, you should keep them in mind when protecting your home. Skylights are excellent for beauty and light, but it’s easy for burglars to gain access to your home through them. Make sure that you use safety hardware when the skylights are installed and maintained.

Get creative and hide valuables inside your walls. It is not necessary to cut out pieces from your wall. Many places around your house have areas that are already pre-cut. Unused electrical sockets can be great for hiding expensive jewelry.

Avoid leaving spare keys outside of your home. Instead of letting you into your home in the event you are locked out, you are providing criminals with easy access to your home. Thieves are aware of these hiding spots. The wisest course of action is to leave a spare key with a trusted friend or a reliable neighbor.

Don’t just hope and pray that your home is never invaded, take steps to reduce the chance of it happening. Always be prepared for the unexpected. Keep the excellent advice presented in this article in mind in order to keep your home and loved ones safe.